Couple Charged In Baby's Death

April 11, 1994

Chicago — A South Side couple was charged Sunday with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of their 3-month-old daughter whose body was found in a box in a garbage can in a South Side alley in February, Wentworth area police said.

George Blackwell, 33, and Maurdine Rudolph, 32, both of 3852 S. Calumet Ave., were each charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and were being held in the Wentworth District lockup, said Wentworth Area Detective Tom Grady. Burnell Harris, 56, of 3732 S. Calumet Ave., who allegedly placed the baby in the box, was charged with not having a burial permit, Grady said.

Naomi Blackwell's body was found Feb. 14 in a garbage can in the 3700 block of South Calumet Avenue by a man scavenging for aluminum cans. The infant weighed just 7 pounds.

The Department of Children and Family Services took the couple's nine other children from their home shortly after the baby's body was discovered. The agency had involvement with the family seven times since 1984 for allegations of neglect and inadequate supervision.